when books are made into movies...

...I usually end up getting pretty disappointed.  I understand that they can never be exactly the same, but somehow I always end up hoping for my exact experience as a reader to be replicated as a movie-goer.  This rarely happens.  I am perpetually excited to hear when I book I enjoyed is being made into a film, but it never turns out like I hope.  For me, the shining exception has always been To Kill A Mockingbird.  To be sure, the book and movie versions are distinct, but they are absolutely of equal quality, and they evoke the same emotions.  Others have come close, but for me, Mary Badham as Scout will always be the best book character come to life.  Perhaps this is because both the book and the movie were created long before I was born.  Still, I read the book before I saw the movie, so I think it still counts.

Now that I have finally come around to accept that movies will be exactly like the books I loved, what is the criteria for a good movie adaptation?  I think my major problem with certain movie adaptations is when major plot points are eliminated, or worse--changed.  I understand that many elements have to be cut, but when whole characters are eliminated, merged, or change beyond recognition, I get upset.  I can think of examples, but I won't mention them here.  Books can do things that films cannot--they allow deeper characterization and exploration that movie-goers may not have time for.  Movies also have benefits over the written word.  Obviously, they literally bring characters to life, but also enhance stories with music and color.  Thoughts?

  

My new favorite movie adaptation--which prompted this post--is The Secret Life of Bees.  I read the book years ago, and I didn't remember specific details, so maybe that helped my viewing experience.  However, I recalled the essentials and the film nailed them.  More than that, it brought to life the same mesmerizing and enchanting feeling that I experienced while reading the book.  Both mediums created an entirely different world that was a joy to visit.  I recommend both.  After watching the movie this evening, I am tempted to reread the book.  

One final musing:  my biggest pet peeve when it comes to movie adaptations is when they reprint the book with the movie actors on the cover.  I know that people tend to buy books when they are made into popular movies, but do the celebrities really need to be on the covers.  If they do, then fine.  But sometimes, the original version goes out of print and it's almost impossible to find the original cover.  It makes it seem like the book was printed as a companion to the film.  This frustrates me.  But I guess it's not all bad if it prompts viewers to read the text.  And I'll admit that I'm being a bit of a snob here.  Forgive me.  

exciting times

I am so very excited to be starting a e-course on blogging this week.  I am looking forward to learning more about the who process of blogging, as well as getting some inspiration for some great new posts.  The course is being led by Holly Becker who has a great blog about design.  I can't wait to get started!  

a little bit different

I've decided to change the name of my blog and to try to make it a little bit more focused.  With the conclusion of my formal education approaching, I am becoming increasingly excited about having more time to read more books of my own choosing in a few months.  In the past year, I've heard about commonplace books on several different occasions.  I've also read several commentaries that equate blogs as basically a modern-day version of the original commonplace book.  Also, I started to read this book, which gives a lengthy list of classic books and suggests ways to understand and retain their contents.  These suggestions basically revolve around a commonplace book.  I haven't finished it yet, and I haven't read many of the books it suggests, but I would like to try it again this summer.  I also plan to write about and quote from any other not-so-classic books I'll read.  These won't really be reviews, but rather reflections, ideas, quotations, etc.  That's all a commonplace book is really supposed to be.  I have a notebook ready to have a pen and paper version as well, but for lengthier thoughts, I believe typing will be better.  I am looking forward to it and hope it helps me to motivate to keep reading once I have more time!    

Not Cool

Of course, this would not be cool regardless of where it happened, but the fact that it happened within a mile of my house makes it decidedly less cool.  

People being randomly stabbed whilst jogging is certainly not going to help my running habit along-and the guy is apparently still out there!!  Thank goodness it sounds like the woman will be okay, but I'll still definitely be praying for her.  

Scary!!!

Ron Silver

a.k.a. Bruno Gianelli died :(  I think I'll have to watch one of his West Wing episodes soon.  Maybe the one where he calls Sam a freak.  

Selling Girl Scout Cookies Over the Internet?

Apparently, one girl scout tried to sell cookies over the internet, but it was eventually shut down.  Here's the story.  Many interesting issues here, not least of which is the girl scout's name: Wild Freeborn.  Very interesting!  But I don't know how I feel about this.  It's been a long time since I was selling cookies, but I bought a few boxes from a couple of girls in my Sunday School class this year.  I like knowing who I was either selling to or buying from.  But it sounds like this girl was going to personally deliver all the cookies, so that's something.  And it did seem like a good business model.  The Girl Scouts brought up the issue of safety, but going door to door always seemed way more scary to me.  Thoughts?  I was also intrigued by the "computer smarts" badge which simply requires visiting three websites.  Hmmmm.  But there certainly wasn't any sort of computer or cyber badge when I was a Brownie, so there is some progress!  Meanwhile, I think I'll go have a Tag-a-log.  Yummy!

Vindication

Anyone who knows me well, or just shared a meal with me, knows that I am a very picky eater.  I am trying to get better about it, but there are just some foods that I cannot eat.  And now, I have vindication.  I've conjectured for a long time that I have a over-sensitive sense of taste or something because I like a lot of bland foods.  And can taste when there is something contaminating my food.   But I didn't really know if that was a thing.  Now, thanks to my beloved wikipedia, I have proof.  I am a super-taster.  Check out the list of "problem foods".  They are almost all on my list.  Haha!  So now I don't feel so weird for sniffing my food before I eat it, being "afraid" of trying new foods, and for wiping the pickle juice off my plate so it doesn't infiltrate into the rest of my food.  

Bookstores and Libraries

All through college, bookstores were like a sanctuary for me.  Well, one bookstore in particular: JosephBeth's in Lexington.  I drove up there many times from campus when I was sad or lonely or something, and it always made me feel better.  I was delighted to get to go back there last fall when I was in Kentucky for a fabulous wedding (haha--since you may be the only one who reads this blog--I thought I'd give you a shout out).  

Anyway, the bookstore obsession continues, and I try to frequent local, or at least semi-local bookstores as  much as I can (although Borders and Barnes and Noble continue to be enjoyable).  My love of used book stores was fostered in London I believe.  The British equivalent of Borders, Waterstones, was exciting for a while, but after being there for a month or so it just felt like another, well, Borders.  (I did continue to stalk a book in the Waterstones across the street from where we had classes until the last week in London, and then I bought it and subsequently read it cover to cover TWO times consecutively while we were in Italy).  Katie and I found a neat used book store on Euston I think?  Do you remember what it was called?  Then there was the Holy Grail of all book stores in Oxford:  Blackwells.  The guide book said it had the most mileage of bookshelves in the world.  It was quite something to see.  I bought a used Oscar Wilde book there.  

I read this one book in London, Elegance, that was about a women who happened upon the original Elegance in a used bookstore and it changed her life.  I own the original now, too, and while it wasn't life-altering, it's a good read.  That's one of my secret (or now not so secret) dreams.  I want to stumble upon an old book in a used book store, perhaps with a history of its own, and then read it and have some sort of significant experience with it.  I watched Definitely, Maybe a few months ago and the search for the Jane Eyre book that April's father inscribed to her was pretty cool.  It kind of made me want to collect every used copy of a particular book I can find.  I just don't know what book it would be.  And that would probably add to my clutter problem.  That whole part of the movie reminded me of Serendipity.  Also, Larry McMurtry's, Books, made me want to be a book collector.  Oh dear.  My book shelves are groaning at the very thought.  Books, is excellent by the way--I suggest it to bibliophiles everywhere.  

In Atlanta, I've really only become attached to one bookstore, Eagle Eye, but it's a wonderful place to find used books.  Also, Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party, but that's not technically a book store.  I'll have to find another one in Austin, although I'm already excited about BookPeople.  

Then there's Amazon, which is a whole other problem for my wallet, but I've long since gotten over my bias against used books on there and that saves some money (and trees!!).  I guess I was just worried about not being able to see the book first, but I've rarely been disappointed.  

I also really want to be a part of a book club.  I've been in the Kappa book club here in Atlanta, but I'll need a new one when I move...

Now to the other part of the post: Libraries.  Although my obsession with books and bookstores has been festering for a long while now, I've only begun to truly appreciate libraries in the last couple of years.  I don't think I ever set foot inside the Danville Public Library, although I heard it was lovely.  I've been quite a frequent user of the DeKalb County Public Library system though and I love it.  The fact that I can request books online is extra special.  Also, the library cards are really cute (and I get a mini one for my key ring!!).  But really I love the chance to read more books without having to buy them.  Don't get me wrong, I will always buy/collect/hoard books, but at least the library has helped me curb the addiction a little bit.  It's also awesome for movies and audio books!  I get a few RSS feeds about libraries and I just caught the tail end of The Librarian on TNT, and while it's not really that much about books, it did inspire me to write this whole post.  The historical aspect of it was cool.  I do think doing research in a public library (for fun, not a paper) would be awesome.  I just need to pick a topic and start reading.  

Speaking of reading, I've completely neglected the books I'm supposed to read for tomorrow for all these other books, so I should wrap it up.  There's always more that could be said about books.